Huayu Chunqiu, starting from being adopted by a fairy mother

Chapter 339 Going the wrong way
When a person is wronged and no one comforts them, it's like smoldering charcoal—no visible flames on the surface, but burning their heart inside.

When someone comforts you, your grievances have an outlet, and your tears have a way to express themselves.

Tong Liya felt wronged. She was a student in the 04 class of the Central Academy of Drama and had just graduated from school.

Bai Bing, also a graduate this year, is doing very well at Chunqiu, despite being a newcomer.

Today, on her way to the rehearsal base, she received a message from the company that Bai Bing would be in charge of the artist management department starting today.

Tong Liya signed with Spring and Autumn very early, in the same batch as Yan Danchen and Chen Zihan, even earlier than Li Xiaoran and Tang Yan.

Tang Yan is currently being heavily promoted by the company, with four or five acting roles in hand. Zhou Yang just finished filming CCTV's "The Legend of Nezha," while Shen Jianni isn't very career-driven and is busy dating Chen Sicheng.

Even Zhang Tianai and Reyizha, who just signed with the company, have roles in "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber".

This woman, despite being quite old, was already a minor celebrity in the dance world before entering the Central Academy of Drama. Four years into her university years, she was still active in the dance community. The work her company assigned her consisted either of hosting or dancing.

She had told Liu Jing some time ago that she wanted to act, wanted to become famous, and wanted to be a film and television actress.

Liu Jingting was shocked. Every time he saw you dancing, he thought you wanted to pursue further studies in this field.

Tong Liya was indignant. No matter how emotional she was, once she stepped onto the stage, she was a dancer. This was her professional responsibility and her principle in life.

Liu Jing agreed to her request, but two months passed and she received no news. Instead, Tang Yan won the lead role in "Chinese Paladin 3".

After inquiring about the casting process, she felt even more heartbroken. The role of Zixuan, a descendant of Nuwa, was originally reserved for Liu Shishi, but Liu Shishi didn't want it, so Long Kui was ultimately chosen.

Cai Yinong's alternative was Sun Li, but Sun Li's child was only two years old and she couldn't stay on set for long.

So Tangren asked Chunqiu for Chen Zihan, hoping she would play the role of Zixuan.

Because of the incident at the beginning of the year, someone posted Chen Zihan's photos online to confuse public opinion and negatively impact her image. After careful consideration, Cai Yinong had no choice but to give up.

Han Xue, Jiang Xin, Guo Xianni, Lin Xilei, Huo Siyan...

With the success of "The Legend of Sword and Fairy 1" preceding it, many people are paying close attention to "The Legend of Sword and Fairy 3".

News of casting kept coming in, and in early June the role was finally decided: Tang Yan.

Everyone was surprised, yet not entirely surprised.

Chunqiu is a shareholder of Tangren, and Tangyan is an artist under Chunqiu. It is only natural that the artist under Chunqiu is supported by "Chinese Paladin 3".

Tong Liya understood that if it weren't for Liu Jing's interference, she would have eaten the phone.

She had just calmed down her jealousy towards Tang Yan when she came across a post about Yang Mi, making it even harder for her to stay calm.

Yang Mi had several dramas scheduled to start filming in the second half of the year. Just as she was about to begin filming, Rong Xinda objected, claiming that Yang Mi had violated company regulations by accepting outside roles without permission. Not only were all signed contracts void, but she was also required to pay a penalty of five million yuan.

Rongxinda's contract terms have always been strict; they adopt a full contract system.

Artists are not allowed to accept acting roles without the company's consent and must prioritize appearing in the company's own projects. Refusing to appear in a company-produced drama will result in a penalty fee.

For any external roles accepted with the company's permission, 50%-70% of the payment must be handed over.

Terminating or breaching the contract will require paying exorbitant penalties.

Yang Mi violated quite a few rules. Li Xiaowan arranged for her to play Qingwen, but Yang Mi refused to do so. Moreover, without the company's consent, she took on several other roles.

Rong Xinda didn't intend to fall out with Yang Mi; he just wanted to ruin her plans and sideline her for two years. The entertainment industry changes rapidly, and two years of inactivity, especially during her prime, will likely result in her fading into obscurity.

They thought that Yang Mi, a shallow person who only cares about money, would definitely swallow her anger, but little did they know that Yang Mi would choose to stand up to them head-on.

When the facts are in your favor, emphasize the facts. When the rules are in your favor, emphasize the rules. When neither the facts nor the rules are in your favor, then bang on the table and muddy the waters.

With an air of impending doom, Yang Mi went to the meeting alone with her boss, slamming the termination agreement and a one million yuan check on the table.

If you insist on breaking off relations, then let's see you in court and let the court judge whether your contract is reasonable. She also stated that she has some inside information about the Dream of the Red Chamber production team and wouldn't mind sharing it with netizens.

Those who wear shoes are truly afraid of those who go barefoot. Yang Mi chose a very good time to film "Dream of the Red Chamber" shortly after it started.

Li Xiaowan was furious. She cursed him as an ingrate, but in the end, she had no choice but to sign the contract.

Li Xiaowan overturned her own table; Yang Mi was breaking the rules. If it weren't for Liu Jing, she would have ruined Yang Mi. Unable to swallow her anger, she contacted Fan Xiaopang, Ju Jue Liang, and Cai Yinong, demanding they terminate their acting contracts with Yang Mi. Each of them readily agreed, but none actually complied.

Yang Mi's failure to publicly announce the contract termination has inevitably drawn criticism, with some accusing her of being untrustworthy. Rong Xinda has also remained silent, as this matter is, after all, dishonorable.

Tong Liya knew about this and also knew who gave Yang Mi the courage.

She just saw a post saying that Yang Mi is a "resource-backed" actress, having starred in the new "Three Kingdoms", "Chinese Paladin 3", and "The Golden Era", but she doesn't even like "Dream of the Red Chamber".

The bearded man took on the job of filming "New Journey to the West", and after the filming of "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber" wrapped up, he started to make his presence felt again.

He recently stated publicly that he would not consider using actors from the Spring and Autumn Period for the remake of "Journey to the West".

Yesterday, another rumor circulated that when filming "The Return of the Condor Heroes," Yang Mi was actually his favorite actress. He felt she was perfect for the role of Queen of the Women's Kingdom and had already extended an invitation.

Yang Mi's internet speed is very fast, and she responded on the same day. She said she didn't receive any invitations and wasn't suitable to play a queen.

Tong Liya sat on the bus, feeling a mix of emotions. Bai Bing lived in a villa and seemed to have bought a new car, while I…

She composed herself and called Bai Bing to congratulate her. She said a lot of insincere pleasantries, but didn't forget to ask at the end, "What are the company's plans for me?"
Bai Bing responded that your priority now is the opening ceremony, and everything else can wait until after the performance of "Silk Road".

Bai Bing meant well; she wouldn't dare to slack off on a task assigned by her boss. Besides "The Golden Era," Tong Liya has two more dramas waiting for her.

She also had concerns; the opening ceremony was just a month away. Rehearsals were at a crucial stage, and the boss placed great importance on the ceremony. She worried that if she told Tong Liya the news, it might affect her performance and disrupt rehearsals.

Tong Liya was unaware of all this. After hanging up the phone, she felt increasingly resentful. He used to think I was an ugly duckling, dark and thin, but now that I'm fair-skinned, if not a swan, at least a pretty girl. The day before yesterday, during dress rehearsal, that guy stared at me intently.

She wallowed in self-pity the whole way, not even realizing she had missed her stop.

If you are going through something unlucky, don't worry, there will definitely be more to come.

Tong Liya confirmed this; she missed her stop and had to walk back. She accidentally missed a step on the steps near the entrance and twisted her ankle. Walking became even more difficult, and she was already late; now she was even later.

She was relieved that there was no rehearsal that morning and was about to sneak into the meeting room. Unexpectedly, she ran into the teacher and was caught and scolded.

Tong Liya explained that she had twisted her ankle, and the teacher said that since her foot was injured, she could withdraw from the competition. Being late even for a leader's visit shows how improper her attitude is. The first candidate is still just a candidate; until the very last moment, it's still uncertain who will win.

Finally, wiping away her tears, she hurriedly walked into the conference room.

When she saw Liu Jing approaching, it was as if she had found her pillar of support. A warmth filled her heart, and suddenly many of her grievances seemed to dissipate.

Little did she know that the other person wasn't there to comfort her, but rather suspected that she didn't want to dance and had deliberately injured her foot.

She never had such thoughts; she worked harder than any of her competitors. While others trained eight hours a day, she trained ten. To stand on the Olympic stage and showcase herself to the world was her honor, and also the most magnificent ending to her dance career.

Tong Liya felt doubly wronged, and grief welled up in her heart, her tears flowing endlessly.

She cried and cried, but then she couldn't cry anymore; her pillar of support had been shunned by her tears.

Liu Jing handed her a few tissues, then silently returned to his seat in the first row without saying a word.

You're not Sissi, you're not even a bond, so he wouldn't even bother asking, let alone trying to coax you.

Liu Jing lost interest even more after that. Zhang Yimou went on stage and said a few words, then invited the leaders to come on stage to speak.

Half an hour later, the lights were turned off, and a promotional video began playing on the big screen.

"Wow! So beautiful……"

"gorgeous……"

"Wow! That's a really good shot."

The first two lines were the audience's quiet exclamations, and the last line was Liu Jing's affirmation of himself.

Enjoying it alone is a different experience than watching it with hundreds of people.

On the screen, the green mountains and clear waters, the blue sky and white clouds, are a sight to behold.

Beneath the white clouds and nestled among the green mountains, there lies a village. Rows of brick and wood-framed houses, resembling traditional courtyard houses, stand side by side, with some families forging knives.

A man and a woman are in the center of the frame; the man is holding a gourd flute, and the woman is sitting to the side.

The man placed the gourd flute on the table. The surrounding environment remained unchanged, but the clothes on the two men instantly changed.

The words "Achang ethnic group" appeared in the upper right corner of the screen.

The man wore a white turban, a blue jacket, and black trousers, and was playing a gourd flute.

The woman wore a black headscarf, a light-colored long-sleeved, round-hemmed blouse, and a dark tube skirt. Her hair was braided on top of her head, adorned with flowers, and she wore a silver necklace and silver bracelets. She danced gracefully to the sound of a flute.

The man wasn't particularly handsome, but he was honest and simple. The woman was pretty, but not stunningly beautiful.

But after the transformation, everyone was pleasantly surprised and amazed.

One moment it was green hills and clear waters, the next scene was a blanket of white snow.

There are two deer in the jungle, and a girl wearing a down jacket.

She placed her hand on the deer's neck, and her clothes instantly transformed. The down jacket became a dress with a large collar trimmed with red. The dress had a narrow bodice and a wide, pleated skirt.

The woman wore a roe deer fur hat and non-slip roe deer fur shoes, which were both beautiful and convenient.

The words "Ewenki ethnic group" appeared in the upper right corner of the screen.

The scene changes again in the third picture; the snow-covered landscape transforms into a bustling market.

Before the costume change even started, an audience member shouted, "Guanyin City, this is the March Street Guanyin City of our Bai ethnic group!"

In the picture, a round-faced girl steps into March Street, and her clothes change.

Liu Jing was somewhat disappointed that no one recognized the girl as Yang Rong.

She played Ding Minjun in "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber". Because of this role, she was selected by Liu Jing to play a Bai ethnic girl.

When filming was taking place in Yunnan, Yang Rong happened to be in her hometown. She herself is of the Bai ethnic group and helped find locations and offered some suggestions.

Yang Rong and Fan Xiaopang are about the same age and debuted around the same time. One is still playing minor roles, while the other is a hot and popular actress.

Liu Jingting acknowledges Yang Rong's acting skills, but unfortunately, she's too laid-back. Zeng Li calls herself laid-back, but there's nothing she can do about it; she can't compete with others. Recently, Bai Bing helped her snag several roles, and although she complains about being tired, she's more proactive than anyone else.

Yang Rong is truly a Buddhist; she treats acting as a job, as long as she can earn some money to make a living.

The fourth painting depicts the Bao'an tribe, with a warrior carrying a sword at his waist.

Then the fifth, the sixth, the seventh...

As the scenes unfolded, the audience gradually became lively. The audience consisted of people from various ethnic groups, and each time their own ethnic costumes appeared, it sparked quiet discussions. They also discussed other costumes, exclaiming, "Oh, I see!" No one organized the discussion or tried to stop them; the atmosphere grew increasingly enthusiastic.

"Liu Shishi, wow, Liu Shishi."

"Who is Liu Shishi? She has such a graceful walk."

"The one who played Mu Nianci in Hu Ge's version of 'The Legend of the Condor Heroes'."

"I don't really remember it."

"Our chief coordinator's rumored girlfriend, the two of them went for a nighttime stroll in Hong Kong."

"Oh, what a fairy!"

As Liu Shishi appeared, the atmosphere reached its climax. Liu Jing overheard the discussions and silently mourned for the little lion. Hopefully, he will play more classic roles in the future and dilute the label of "little fairy".

The changing scenes are like a grand feast, even more exciting than watching a fashion show.

The harvest festival of the Gaoshan people, the dombra of the Kazakh people, the long street banquet of the Hani people, the big drum dance of the Jinuo people, the horse racing of the Kyrgyz people, the hunting of the Lhoba people...

Then Zhang Tianai appeared riding a white horse, wearing a sun hat, a vest, and tight pants—a true urban woman.

An eagle swooped down from the sky and landed on her arm, transforming the urban woman into a valiant grassland heroine. She galloped on horseback, drew her bow, and fired an arrow that pierced the screen, eliciting gasps of amazement.

"Why did seeing her suddenly remind me of Zhao Min?" someone muttered nearby.

Upon hearing this, Liu Jing smiled knowingly; this was exactly the effect he wanted.

"Congratulations, you guessed right! She was chosen to play Zhao Min in last year's casting for 'The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber.' It's said she's Zhang Min's niece; don't they look somewhat alike?"

"No way! Zhang Min is my goddess, this can't compare."

"It's not enough, each scene is less than ten seconds long."

"If we can't get enough of it, why don't we appeal to the director to edit out an extended version?"

"The director is the overall coordinator."

"Uh, just forget I said anything."

Liu Jing's face darkened. "You guys really know how to give me work." He really wanted to turn around and see who was so talented.

"The most beautiful Xiao Zhao, the most beautiful Xiao Zhao..." Exclamations of surprise filled the air, creating another climax as Gulnazar appeared.

"This girl is so pretty. Is she an artist from your Spring and Autumn Period? The casting is good. She is indeed suitable for Xiao Zhao." Even Chen Kaige, who was next to Liu Jing, couldn't help but make a few comments.

"The general coordinator smuggled in some personal projects and used quite a few actors from 'The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber.' Ding Minjun, Zhou Zhiruo, Zhao Min, Xiao Zhao, holy crap, Tong Liya, is that Tong Liya?"

The girl not far away was also complaining, but before she could finish speaking, the screen switched, and Tong Liya appeared.

The most beautiful Xiao Zhao is on the horizon. Tong Liya is a colleague I often see. At this moment, everyone looks at her as if they are meeting for the first time.

Before the makeover, she was just an ordinary girl next door; after the makeover, she became stunningly beautiful.

A gradient indigo-dyed pleated skirt, adorned with an eagle-shaped brooch at the chest, exudes a crisp, clear quality reminiscent of melting snow from the Tianshan Mountains. It is both sleek and accentuates an hourglass figure. Eagle and deer motifs are visible throughout the garment, with gold eagle feathers embroidered on the cuffs.

The clothes are beautiful, but the person is even more beautiful.

Her skin was as white as snow, with high cheekbones and a small square chin, giving her a very refined look.

Her eyes were resolute, with a gentle yet firm strength, like a female hero guarding the frontier.

"It's Tong Liya. She wore Xibe ethnic clothing in a way that made it look like a formal dress."

"It's so beautiful."

"She seemed to be crying just now. Could it be that the general coordinator abandoned her after taking advantage of her?"

"So beautiful, who would bear to abandon her?"

"The chief coordinator is surrounded by too many beautiful women, and besides, Tong Liya is just so-so after removing her makeup."

Tong Liya no longer felt a trace of grievance; all eyes were on her. She had never shone so brightly, not even when dancing on stage or participating in beauty pageants.

She couldn't help but feel a little dazed. Was the person on the screen me?

By the time Tong Liya came to her senses, the lights were on, and Liu Jing had already walked onto the stage to be interviewed by the media.

"Hello, Mr. Liu Jing, did you sort by the first letter of your pinyin?" a reporter asked from the audience.

"Yes," Liu Jing replied. At the time, someone suggested sorting by the number of people, but Liu Jing did not adopt that suggestion.

The reporter waited a few seconds, but received no further response, so he had no choice but to ask again, "The costume show was wonderful, and it showcased the culture and characteristics of various ethnic groups very well. How did you come up with the idea?"

"After accepting the assignment, I went home and sat in a chair, thinking for a whole day. When my family came home, they thought I had suffered some kind of shock, that I didn't even notice bird droppings on my head. Then one of them mentioned Yue Ren Clothing, and it woke me up. Yue Ren Clothing started out making film and television costumes..."

The audience looked at each other in bewilderment. The beginning seemed fine, but was the next part going to be an advertisement?
I answered the first question with two words, and the second question took two or three minutes to answer.

After Liu Jing finally finished answering, the reporter quickly asked the third question, "I just heard people discussing that some of the actors in the film are from 'The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber.' Are you trying to use this opportunity to promote the film?"

“That’s right.” Liu Jing scanned the audience, trying to find the two girls.

The girl wasn't found; all that could be seen were bubbles. Those closer together floated like weary birds returning to their nests. Those farther away remained suspended overhead.

Liu Jing treats every day like a job; his punctuality isn't due to professionalism, but rather to harvest bubbles on time.

He no longer cares about the superficiality of ordinary film crews.

But this rehearsal base is different; hundreds of people are the norm, thousands are frequent, and occasionally the population can even exceed ten thousand.

Every morning when Liu Jing comes over, he takes a stroll under the guise of checking security. He gains anywhere from a few hundred to tens of thousands of points of cultural and entertainment energy, which motivates him greatly.

Since joining the creative team, he has accumulated hundreds of thousands of points of entertainment energy.

"That..." The reporter almost choked on their own words, "That's right," showing no restraint whatsoever. The reporter brought it up without malice, simply wanting to promote Liu Jing's film. After all, Liu Jing had openly discussed the matter during filming.

But even if you're talking about it privately, shouldn't you use a high-sounding and respectable speech in front of so many people?

Tong Liya couldn't help but laugh, and in a daze, she was transported back to a few years ago, where she saw the boy who had killed her with a single sentence.

The audience burst into laughter; he spoke with such conviction that it was impossible to hate him.

“They were selected from thousands of people. Since we already have ready-made actors, why should we go to all that trouble?” Liu Jing explained briefly.

"Ahem, when the promotional video was being filmed, I heard that you considered Liu Yifei and Fan Bingbing, but why did you give up on them?" the reporter asked again.

"I don't think they can represent the Han Chinese. Apart from the actors in 'Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre,' you can probably tell that I rarely use celebrities. I mainly choose ordinary people, because they are the ones who can represent their respective ethnic groups. These people include workers, farmers, waiters, and small vendors..."

Liu Jing spoke eloquently and answered the question seriously.

The audience nodded in agreement; this guy could be quite serious when he was being serious.

No one knew the bitterness in his heart. Liu Jing initially wanted to choose one of Fan Bingbing, Liu Tao, Zhou Yun, and Gao Yuanyuan. Before he could make a decision, Qianqian said she wanted to perform a Han Chinese cross-dressing role.

Liu Jing rejected her because she had a slightly mixed-race appearance, and then found an ordinary person.

The reporter didn't ask many questions; they were mainly aimed at guiding Liu Jing's popular science creation concepts.

The next four promotional videos were fairly standard, filmed using normal methods and approaches.

The leader went on stage to give his final comments, saying that young people have ideas and that the future belongs to them, and so on.

When the leaders come, of course everyone has to eat with them. We just eat in the cafeteria; we don't go anywhere else.

Taking the opportunity, Liu Jing had a couple of drinks with Chen Kaige and finalized the deal on renting the venue for "The Orphan of Zhao," leaving the specific details to be finalized by others.

"Forgive me for my untamed and free-spirited life, for I also fear that one day I will fall and betray my ideals..."

Liu Jing hummed a song as he came out of the restaurant, took out his phone, and prepared to make a call.

He's a law-abiding citizen who always obeys traffic regulations and never drinks and drives.

"Do you need a designated driver?" Tong Liya leaned against a pillar, her arms crossed over her chest.

"Do you have a driver's license?" Liu Jing put away his phone. There was a designated driver available, so why not use him?

"Yes, I didn't take it," Tong Liya replied.

"Didn't you injure your foot?" Liu Jing asked hesitantly.

"It's nothing serious. I twisted my ankle this morning. I've already applied some medicine. It's a little red and swollen, but it won't affect my driving." Tong Liya tossed her hair, her eyes full of provocation. "Worried I'll lead you astray?"

Liu Jing shrugged and tossed the car keys over. "I'm not even afraid of Sister Li driving now, let alone you."

Tong Liya walked in front, with Liu Jing following behind. Although his legs were not very agile, he walked quite steadily and had no problem driving.

Upon reaching the car, Liu Jing went straight to the back seat, fastening his seatbelt as he asked, "What happened this morning?"

Tong Liya was speechless. She thought you were really trusting. "I missed my stop this morning and was walking in a bit of a hurry. I accidentally twisted my ankle. My teacher saw me and scolded me."

"No matter the excuse, being late is being late, and it shouldn't be happening." Liu Jing closed his eyes; he felt sleepy after drinking a little alcohol and was about to take a nap.

"Yes! But I didn't hurt myself. I know this opportunity wasn't easy to come by..."

"The base has dormitories, but you live a bit far away, so you can stay here."

"I've been busy with graduation matters lately, so I went back to live there."

"Oh!"

Tong Liya glanced back; they weren't even out of the parking lot yet, and she was already asleep. She'd thought he was worried, but it turned out he really trusted her. Should she tell him that she did have a driver's license, but had hardly driven since getting it, and that she'd only just gotten it?

Liu Jing was fast asleep, dreaming that he was still the director, filming another sensual costume show.

squeak……

With a sudden stop, Liu Jing instantly sobered up, all traces of alcohol gone.

It wasn't that the novice driver was good at sudden braking; rather, there was an electric scooter crossing the road ahead.

"That scared me to death." Tong Liya patted her chest, her face pale and covered in cold sweat.

"Ya Ya, you've taken the wrong road." Liu Jing glanced out the window. It wasn't the way home, nor the way back to the company; it seemed to be near the Central Academy of Drama.

“I think I’m right.” Tong Liya slowly started the car; this was the way home.

(End of this chapter)